Inflation Calculator
See what an amount of money is worth across time at a chosen average annual inflation rate — project forward to 2076 or look back to 1950.
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Adjust the inputs on the left to see your equivalent value.
Inflation quietly compounds: at just 3% per year, prices double roughly every 24 years, and a dollar loses half its purchasing power. This calculator converts an amount of money between any two years — from 1950 out to a projected 2076 — using a constant average annual inflation rate that you control. Set the end year earlier than the start year and it works in reverse, deflating the amount instead.
How it's calculated
years = end year − start year
equivalent value = amount × (1 + rate ÷ 100) ^ years
total change % = (equivalent ÷ amount − 1) × 100
For example, $100 in 2000 grows to about $215.66 in 2026 dollars at a 3% average rate — a 115.7% total increase across 26 years. Because the exponent can be negative, the same math answers "what was $100 of today's money worth in 1980?" without any extra steps.
This is a constant-rate model, not a CPI lookup. Actual US inflation, measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U index, varies year to year: it averaged close to 3.0% from 1950 through the mid-2020s, but ran near 0–2% through the 2010s, spiked above 9% in mid-2022, and then cooled back toward the Federal Reserve's 2% target. For precise historical conversions you'd chain the actual CPI-U index values for each year (a future version of this tool will do exactly that); for planning and intuition, a long-run average of 2.5–3.5% is the standard assumption.
Inflation matters for more than groceries. Salaries, rents, and retirement targets all need an inflation adjustment to compare across decades, and the IRS inflation-adjusts dozens of federal tax figures every year — the 2026 brackets and standard deduction in IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 are themselves a CPI-based recalculation. When projecting investments, subtract your assumed inflation rate from nominal returns to think in "real" terms: a 7% return during 3% inflation grows your purchasing power by only about 4% a year.
Frequently asked questions
What inflation rate should I use for projections?
The Federal Reserve targets 2%, while the long-run US average since 1950 is close to 3%. Most financial planners use 2.5%–3% for forward projections. Use a higher rate to stress-test retirement or savings plans.
How fast does inflation halve my purchasing power?
Use the rule of 72: divide 72 by the inflation rate to get the approximate doubling time for prices. At 3%, prices double (and purchasing power halves) in about 24 years; at 6%, in about 12 years.
Is this based on actual CPI data?
Not yet — it applies a constant average annual rate that you choose, which is ideal for planning and what-if scenarios. Exact historical conversions require chaining the BLS CPI-U index year by year, which actual yearly inflation rates only approximate on average.
Can I calculate backwards, e.g. what 2026 dollars were worth in 1990?
Yes. Set the start year to 2026 and the end year to 1990. The years spanned become negative and the formula deflates the amount, showing the smaller historical equivalent.
Why do tax brackets change with inflation?
The IRS adjusts federal tax brackets, the standard deduction, and dozens of other figures annually using a CPI-based formula to prevent "bracket creep" — for tax year 2026 those adjustments are published in IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.
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Results from this calculator are estimates for informational use only — not financial, medical, or professional advice. Read our full disclaimer before acting on any number you see here.